Police Accountability Project Referral Form

Thank you for using this referral form to refer a case to us. This form should take less than 15 minutes to complete and we will get back to you within a week.

The Police Accountability Project prioritises case work in the following areas:

1. Your client is a victim of family violence

We assist with helping people to get or defend a Family Violence Intervention Order where:

  • The perpetrator of family violence is a police officer or someone closely connected to the police; or
  • An order is being sought against your client, even though they are in fear for their safety in the relationship (‘misidentification cases’).

We can also help in some other situations where there has been a serious failure by police to respond to family violence and with some other family violence advocacy.

2. Your client has been charged by the police

We assist with summary crime (cases in Magistrates’ courts), and under exceptional circumstances, indictable crime (cases in higher courts) where:

  • The client has been targeted or treated differently by police based on their perceived race;
  • The police have used excessive force;
  • There has been serious police misconduct; or
  • There have been serious failures by police to respond properly to family violence, including where your client has been charged in relation to a situation where they are a victim of family violence in the relationship.

3. Your client has been harmed by the police or failed to be protected

We run a very small number of civil litigation cases (suing the police) and assist in a very small number of coronial inquests where this helps with advocacy and law reform objectives related to the above priority practice areas, for example:

  • on behalf of people who have experienced racialised policing (improper stop and search, or assaults);
  • predatory sexual behaviour by police, or serious failures to protect people experiencing family violence;
  • people who have died while in police contact; or
  • certain systemic use of force matters (for example, in mental health cases or use of OC Foam).

We prioritise cases for Aboriginal and Torres Straits Island People, People of Colour, people with substance dependence, people with disabilities, people experiencing and/or at risk of homelessness, people with mental illness, people who identify as LGBTIQ+, young people and particularly children in out-of-home care, and single parents. Our acceptance of referrals is subject to capacity.

Please ensure all fields marked * are completed.

When the form has been successfully sent, you will be shown a confirmation message.

Worker details

Client details

She/her He/him They/them Other
Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Person of Colour Young person Child in out-of-home care LGBTQI+ Mental Illness Physical disability Intellectual disability Acquired Brain Injury Substance dependence Homelessness Family Violence Single parent Other

Other priority needs your client has:


Yes No
Yes No
Family violence committed by a police officer or someone closely connected to the police Other family violence (e.g. the client who is a victim has had an order brought against them) Police using excessive force against the client Police discriminating against the client (including racial profiling) Other

Other issues with police your client has had:


Help with criminal charges Help to sue the police Help to get greater assistance from the police Help getting a Family Violence Intervention Order Help responding to a Family Violence Intervention Order Help making a complaint against police Help with a coronial inquest Other

Other legal help your client is currently seeking:


Yes No

Please provide as much information as you can about the client’s legal problem*

Include, if possible:

  • Any police conduct the client is concerned about,
  • Any injuries the client has suffered,
  • Any allegations police have made against the client,
  • Any criminal charges against the client,
  • Where possible, any relevant dates (e.g. dates of any incidents, date a report or statement was made to police, etc – this helps us to work out the client’s legal options), and
  • Information about any documents or other evidence relating to the incident the client has.

We appreciate many people have very busy workloads so brief is fine if you can’t provide detailed information.

Please provide any other information that can help us protect the client’s safety or help with communication (e.g. if they need an interpreter, if they prefer in person or phone appointments)